For Immediate Release: January 14, 2004
Canadore College and Canadian Forces Partnership
Takes Flight
Canadore College Avionics students and graduates are being put to work by the Canadian Forces. A new partnership between Canadore and the Canadian Forces has been established and will see students and graduates of Canadore's Aviation Technician - Avionics Maintenance program put their specialized skills to use in the military as Avionics Technicians.
Alex Naismith, a first-year Canadore student, has seized the opportunity to complete the Aviation Technician - Avionics Maintenance program, while enrolled in the Canadian Forces under a newly created plan known as the Non Commissioned Member Subsidized Education Plan (NCM SEP).
?There are many benefits to this partnership. In addition to drawing a significant salary with benefits, all costs associated with the program such as tuition, books and instruments are borne by the Department of National Defence. Upon graduation, these students will be employed in the Canadian Forces as an Avionics Systems Technician,' explained Captain Tony Turco, of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre in North Bay.
A 2003 graduate from the Avionics program, Micah Livingston has also been accepted into the Canadian Forces as a semi-skilled applicant, and was sworn in along with Naismith, on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 at a ceremony held in the Canadore College Aviation Campus' main hangar. Colonel Pierre Forgues, Wing Commander of 22 Wing Wing/Canadian Forces Base, North Bay was on hand to swear in the new recruits.
Chris Hadfield, Astronaut, recently retired Canadian Forces Colonel and the first Canadian to walk in space, enrolled Matthew Baer, another first-year Avionics student at Canadore College, into the Canadian Forces in November. Baer was also present at the ceremony.
'This is an excellent partnership for us and a wonderful opportunity for our students to not only acquire a highly sought after education, but also an exciting career. As an additional benefit, the student is compensated financially, ' stated Sylvia Taus, Dean of Sectoral Initiatives/Principal at Canadore?s Aviation Campus.
Anyone interested in more information about this program can contact the Canadore College Liaison Office at (705) 474 ?7600 ext. 5460 or the Canadian Forces, North Bay Recruiting Office at (705) 472-3710.
Photo: First year Canadore Avionics Maintenance student Alex Naismith (left) and Micah Livingston, a 2003 graduate of the same program, were each sworn into the Canadian Forces on January 14, 2004. The two displayed their certificates following the ceremony, held in the hangar at Canadore College?s Aviation Campus.
